The Labor enquirer., 1887-03-12
TO TIE NJ 'NERs.
A Matter Of Importance For
Them to Carefully
Consider.
Will Not the Further IntrOduc'
.tiOn Of Machinery Deprive
Them OfWOrk and Bread!
why Every Coal Miner Ought Il
Organize, Read, and Vote the Pc
Labor Ticket.


For The Enquirer.
Every day it grows more and NOR
apparent to the workers employed II
the coal mines Of this Republic tina
they also in common with all othe
wage workers, are beibg reduced 10 tht
lowest possible standard Of living. No
only this. but ev en- at starvation wage:
it has become almost an imrossibilitv t
obtain labor end bread.
Only those mi mes that are we'll organ
lied manage to come anywhere neal
holding their own.
Even here as we'll however machinery
is being used with terrible effect
Among other. new inventions is one
lately put in use in Colorado which so
simplifies mining on a seam of coal that
any green hand out of work can do as
good and much faster work than the
present exprlenGed han who has spent
q lifetime to lear 10 his business.
1t becomes NECESSARY for every worker
in and about the coal MINIS Of this land
to do three things:
l. Organize.
2. Educate yourselves by king and
/
reading THE LABOR ENQUIRER or some
other good labor paper.
8. Ally yourselve, with the labor po
litical movement and endeavor to have
PASSED by your legislature some such
bill as the following which has been
lately introduced into thu Legislature Of
Illinois by the Chicago Central Labor
Union:
An Act to Protect the People from Coal Mo-
nopolles.
SEcTioN /. Be it enacted by the peo-
pie of the state Of Illinois. represented
in the general assembly, tn 1t a commits
sion which sball be styled "The Board
of Coal Commissioner" shall be ap.
pointed as follows: Within twenty days
after this act shall take effect the gov
ernor shall appoint three persons as
such commissioners. who shall hold
their office until the next meeting of the
gener assembly aud until their success
sors are appointed aud qualified. at
the next meeting of the general assem-
blv and every four years there ,fter, the
governor, by and with the advice and
consent # the senate, snail appoint
three persons as commissioners. who
shall hold their offices for the term of
four years from the first day Of January
In the wear of their appointment, and
until their successors are appointed and
qualified.
Sec. .. Said issloners may adopt
an official seal, and may authenticate
all their official acts with the same and
the signature ofsuch members or Off
Gers of the board, as it by resolution
may direct.
Sec 8. For all legal purposes the
said commissioners shall be deemed
officers of the state, and all deeds, con
tracts, writings aud acts may be made
and suits prosecuted by them, in the
name Of "The Board of Coal Commits
sioners," but thev shall not be considered
as distinct corp )ration, or be liable to
be sued.
Sec. t. Before entering upon the
duties of his office, each Of the s,id com
mlssioners shall make and subscribe,
and file with the secretary of state. an
affidavit, in he following form:
do sole nnly swear (or affirm. as the
case NAV bel that VIII support the
constitution of the United States and
the clnstituio ion OF the state Of Illinois,
and that l will faithfully discharge the
duties of the Office of coal CON missioner,
according to thu best Of my ability.
And shall enter into bonds, with Sc.
curity to be approved by the governor,
in the sum of S5OO 900 conditioned for the
faithful performsnc Of his duty as such
com missioner.
Sec. 5. Ea II Of the said commission
ers shall receive ve for his services sum
not exceeding s., 900 per annum, payable
quarterly.
Sec. 6. As soon as the said commits
sioners snail be appointed they shall or
canize by the election Of president,
secretary. and treasurer. and the board
shall fix the duties Of each.
Sec. Z. Immediately after they snail
have organized the board, they shall
proceed to negotiate with all owners oil
coal mines in the state for the sale o.
their lands, mines, machinery, and othel
property to I'll state. II said owner
shall name a price and said comnisson'
/ ers deem the price fair ons, then said
commissioners shall pay the amoun
demanded bat il there is no d'spositiof
|. 70 sell. or an unreasonable amount /
asked for, then said commissioners sha
, take proceedings in their offici.I nam
; TO ascertain the compensation to b'
v,vsn for the property desired, in tn
! manner at the time provided by Law 70
the exercise Of the right Of eminent dc
main, they shall acquire possession Of a
coal mines in the state
II Secs. The commissioners shall nav
|. authority to appoint such snperin'en'